I'm amazed Waugh hasn't put a sweeper on the boundary to Vaughan, who's piercing the infield at will. The pitch is doing all sorts though, and Hussain is taking a bit of a battering from Lee. Tellingly, though, he's smiling at the vagaries of the track, because he knows Australia have got to go out there and bat on it. He's not smiling one ball later though, as one stays low, and Nasser nicks it off the bottom of the bat, to be taken by a relieved Gilchrist. A great shame, as there was just one ball left before lunch. Hussain's out for 72, but it's undoubtedly England's session.

England 2nd innings, 83rd over: 305-2 (Vaughan 163, Hussain 68)

This pitch is really starting to misbehave, as Hussain fends off one that rears up from Bichel with his glove, before the next ball dies to go under his bat. All of which must count as great news for England.

England 2nd innings, 82nd over: 304-2 (Vaughan 163, Hussain 68)

It's now or never for Lee, on his home ground, as he takes the new ball. He has Hussain guessing at the first ball, and nicking an edge which falls just short of the keeper. Vaughan, though, is simply in awesome touch, and I just can't see him getting out. Lee's bowling at ninety miles-an-hour with the new ball and Vaughan just leans forward to the pitch of the ball, and eases it through the covers. No-one moves, as it thuds into the boundary.

England 2nd innings, 81st over: 299-2 (Vaughan 159, Hussain 67)

It's Bichel who's given first chance with the new ball, and he produces a couple of decent outswingers to Vaughan, who watches them go past.

Pete writes with a role-play situation - 'Just imagine if these had been the two teams to play for the Ashes. The best two bowlers in the world out for them and our best bowlers back.' (Dawson? Are you sure?) 'My money would have been on us.' Rob, in Cambridge, agrees: 'Aussie fans who are now bemoaning the fact they're not at full strength in this test and keen to point out they're missing McGrath and Warne should stop their bitching and acknowledge England's injury woes throughout this tour. We're labelled whinging Poms, until the shoe's suddenly on the other foot.'

England 2nd innings, 81st over: 299-2 (Vaughan 159, Hussain 67)

Hussain edges one from MacGill, who's still turning it, but it drops well short of slip. Waugh looks to the heavens, and takes the new ball.

England 2nd innings, 80th over: 299-2 (Vaughan 159, Hussain 67)

The new ball is due, but Waugh's not taking it, and it's difficult to see where a wicket is coming from. A lapse in concentration is the most likely candidate, but no such problem for Vaughan here, cutting Bichel dismissively for one boundary and then hitting him over mid-off for four more. Beautiful.

England 2nd innings, 79th over: 291-2 (Vaughan 151, Hussain 67)

England are closing in on a lead of 300, and let's face it, with eight wickets remaining, they should notch at least 400. Certainly they will if Vaughan sticks around. A prod to third man brings up his 150, and then MacGill throws in his customary full-toss to allow Nasser to crack another glance through mid-wicket for four.

England 2nd innings, 78th over: 284-2 (Vaughan 148, Hussain 62)

The first signs of a chance for the Aussies, as Hussain takes on a misfield by the lethargic Gillespie, who compounds the error with a lacklustre throw. Vaughan then plays the recalled Bichel slightly uppishly, but avoids the infield. The England skipper gets back on track with a boundary struck to mid-wicket off the last ball.

England 2nd innings, 77th over: 276-2 (Vaughan 147, Hussain 56)

The 150 partnership is up between these two, and Vaughan continues to be the dominant partner. He smashes a straight drive off MacGill back past him, but it's so straight that it hits the stumps at the opposite end, and the Stud (so christened by Andrew Stoten, in London, because Vaughan scores so easily) is denied another boundary, having to make do with two.

England 2nd innings, 76th over: 273-2 (Vaughan 145, Hussain 55)

Vaughan is dismissing Gillespie at will, with another sumpuous pull to the boundary. He missed out on two double centuries against India last summer, but my money's on him to make no mistake this time around. A controlled leg glance beats MacGill's despairing dive later in the over for four more.

England 2nd innings, 75th over: 264-2 (Vaughan 137, Hussain 54)

I'm always impressed by the way in which professional cricketers unerringly hit the stumps when fielding in the in-field. I guess that's why they're professionals. It's Bichel in this case, finding the target despite being prostrate, and having what Rob, in Cambridge, refers to as a 'girly' throw. Luckily, Hussain is well in after a quickish single. MacGill throws in his standard short one, and Vaughan plays a regulation cross-bat four through the off-side.

England 2nd innings, 74th over: 259-2 (Vaughan 133, Hussain 53)

Still Gillespie plods on, but his best chance of a breakthrough appears to lie with the increasingly treacherous pitch. It does for Nasser here, as he attempts another pull, only to see the ball get up about three inches. Luckily it's off target, and runs harmlessly through to Gilchrist on the fourth bounce.

England 2nd innings, 73rd over: 257-2 (Vaughan 133, Hussain 52)

Why do wicket-keepers always feel the need to offer false praise to bowlers? Take Gilchrist here. After Vaughan picks off a typically short one for a pulled four, MacGill send down a ball that, for once, isn't short-pitched. Vaughan goes forward and plays a solid defensive shot for the most innocuous dot ball ever. 'At, that's a beaut, mate,' shouts the Aussie keeper. Maybe he's taking the mick. Either that, or he's taking a leaf out of Alec Stewart's book, which reeks of even greater desperation...

England 2nd innings, 72nd over: 253-2 (Vaughan 129, Hussain 52)

Gillespie's still going, but I'm becoming more and more convinced that it's really Goran Ivansevic in a pretty poor disguise. OK, so the Croatian tennis player is left-handed, but that may explain the reduced impact of the man the Aussies call Dizzy. He's beginning to look just that. Having said that, there's just one off the over.

England 2nd innings, 71st over: 253-2 (Vaughan 129, Hussain 51)

Sure enough, MacGill's on, and it says a good deal about the impotence of this weakened Aussie attack that the journeyman leg-spinner probably rates as the home team's best bet for a wicket. Certainly he's getting a decent amount of turn out there - too much for Hussain to do any damage through two attempted cuts here - but how Steve Waugh would love to toss the ball to Shane Warne now. A maiden (the over, not Warne).

England 2nd innings, 70th over: 253-2 (Vaughan 129, Hussain 51)

Ten overs till the new ball, and how the Aussies need it. Bizarrely, Waugh has his two quickies on now, though, so expect him to give them a rest shortly. Gillespie certainly looks like he needs one, while Lee fails to trouble either batsman in this over.

England 2nd innings, 69th over: 252-2 (Vaughan 129, Hussain 50)

Naz reaches his 27th test half-century with an easy single down to third man, and these two are looking in complete control. It may be too little too late, and we haven't won anything yet, but it's beautiful to watch...

England 2nd innings, 68th over: 251-2 (Vaughan 129, Hussain 49)

Hussain pulls Gillespie again, picking up three, and the so-called Aussie 'quickie' is looking like a pale imitation of the bowler who troubled England in the first four tests. His last ball, tamely trickling down leg side, was, quite frankly, woeful.

England 2nd innings, 67th over: 247-2 (Vaughan 127, Hussain 46)

Just as the Aussies were threatening to rein England in, Lee cutting through Hussain with a lifter, Nasser pulls Blondie for an imperious boundary.

England 2nd innings, 66th over: 241-2 (Vaughan 127, Hussain 42)

A maiden from Gillespie, as Australia reclaim some sort of grip on the England swashbucklers.

England 2nd innings, 65th over: 241-2 (Vaughan 127, Hussain 42)

A testing yorker from Lee is well seen off by Vaughan.

OK, for those of you who aren't Glyn Wilmshurst in London, Gregory Elphinston (an Aussie in Finland), David Hughes in Sweden, Jamie Mason somewhere in the UK, or Andrew Howard, at an undisclosed location, the last Englishman to make three centuries in an Ashes series down under was Chris Broad, in 1987.

England 2nd innings, 64th over: 240-2 (Vaughan 127, Hussain 41)

Another classical boundary from Vaughan, guided square to the boundary, despite Hayden's full length dive at the ropes. He's now hit 19 fours and one six. Gillespie is bowling to just one slip and throws in a slower ball, which Vaughan picks off for a single.

England 2nd innings, 63rd over: 234-2 (Vaughan 123, Hussain 41)

After a slow start, England are stepping up the pace, and this time it's Hussain who cuts lose. A text book half-volley clipped away from his legs goes back past Lee to the boundary and then he eases one square for three more. These two are looking comfortable, and you sense that Australia must break them in this session if they're to have any chance.

England 2nd innings, 62nd over: 228-2 (Vaughan 123, Hussain 34)

Gillespie's on and it'll be interesting to see just what firepower the big man has got left. Vaughan takes him on second ball, lofting a majestic pull over the infield for four and then playing a glorious cover drive square of the wicket for four more.

I'm beginning to think my trivia questions are to easy, as I've had two correct answers already. Are you all sitting there with copies of Wisden by your side?

England 2nd innings, 61st over: 220-2 (Vaughan 115, Hussain 34)

It's a quiet opening, with Hussain content just to block Lee. Australia have pretty much said that whatever target England set them, they'll go for it, so time may be more important than runs for England.

England 2nd innings, 60th over: 220-2 (Vaughan 115, Hussain 34)

Just a single from a tight Waugh over. England are playing it cautiouly so far, and look determined to occupy the crease.

I know how you guys like your trivia, and I was accused of setting too easy a question with my '10,000 run club' poser the other day, so try this one for size: Who was the last English batsman to score three centuries in an Ashes series down under, before Miachael Vaughan?

England 2nd innings, 59th over: 219-2 (Vaughan 114, Hussain 34)

Lee is on, bowling to just two slips. Given that Waugh is on at the other end, is Gillespie still struggling for fitness? If Dizzy can't bowl, one of these Aussie bowlers is going to need to put in a big performance here, which none of them has managed yet. Lee looks the most likely, and has Vaughan playing and missing twice here in an impressive maiden.

England 2nd innings, 58th over: 219-2 (Vaughan 114, Hussain 34)

So this is it. England start the fourth day in an imposing position, over 200 ahead with eight wickets remaining. Many of you will recall yesterday's debate centrered around what a safe target would be for England to set Australia, with the general consensus somewhere between 300 and 350. Overnight, a few cautious pundits have raised this to nearer 400, wary of the destructive Aussie batting line-up, and the home team's desperation for a whitewash. Given that, time at the crease will be imperative for England.

Surprisingly, SteveWaugh elects to open up the bowling himself, with a very defensive field containing no slips or close fielders. Vaughan plays and misses at one which nips back, but a single eases the nerves.

On a more light-hearted note, Jim writes in with a theory as to the reason for the U2 music as the players emerge. 'Before the day's play,' he says, 'the players warm up with some classic Aussie rock. All the greats, from INXS through Men at Work, and on to Olivia Newton-John. No Acca Dacca or Rolf Harris, unfortunately. After about twenty minutes, they run out of music. Maybe as a tribute to the origins of most white Australians they opt for an Irish influence...'